Wednesday, July 25, 2012

It's been way too long since I sat down to write a blog. Each day has been very full, very full indeed! But, at long last, I am able to steal a few moments to fill you all in on the goings on here at Our Lady of Solitude.

There is SO much going on! On July 1st we had two young ladies begin a time of discernment with our community (called candidacy). Please keep them in your prayers as they continue to discern God's Will for their life.

Last week the seating for the Nuns' Mass Choir and the Nuns' Adoration Choir was being installed. It looks so beautiful and complete (photos to follow soon).

It is monsoon season in the desert of Arizona. And every year I am amazed by this season. I remember when we first moved here, the locals would say how they loved monsoon season. I thought it was strange as, in addition to high heat, there is the added 'bonus' of humidity. Coming from Alabama, I really do appreciate the dry heat. But I must say, despite the humidity, monsoon season continues to wiggle its way into my affection! There is something very beautiful and mysterious about a desert storm - the yellow skies, the violent winds, the smell of a desert rain, and the arid ground rejoicing in the needed moisture.

We have had our fair share of monsoon storms here in Tonopah so far this summer - and thankfully we've gotten some rain along with the blowing dust and thunder! We've even had a rainbow or two!

Last week we had a particularly treacherous looking dust storm blow through. They always come from the East it seems, blowing in from the Valley of the Sun. And these storms arrive with little warning. The sky turns a mysterious yellowish brown color in the distance...within minutes the thick cloud is bearing down upon us. The clear blue desert sky is replaced by a thick brown cloud that is hard to describe. Below are some photos for our blog followers who have not experienced a dust storm in the desert. There's a certain helplessness that comes upon us as we watch these storms roll in. All we can do is brace ourselves and whisper a little prayer (that the power won't go out...because that's no fun when it is 110 degrees)...and let it blow over. And remember that there are blue skies above the dust.

It's much like life, I guess. Especially in moments of helplessness in the midst of the storm. It gives me great comfort to remember the book of Job - and how the Lord spoke to Job from the MIDST OF THE STORM: "Then the Lord answered Job out of the storm....Brace yourself
like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me. “Where were
you when I laid the earth’s foundation? " (Job 38)

There are times in life when we get a little glimpse of reality and know how little and vulnerable and helpless we are. But such moments, if we are attentive, are always accompanied by a clearer glimpse of the greater reality of the power and strength and protecting love of Our Father.

The PCPAs of Our Lady of Solitude

"A religious community which refuses to conform to the requirements of the times becomes unfaithful to its founder, for it will no longer be able to do the work confided to it...A community keeps its youth if it is faithful to the spirit of its founder by striving to do things, not as they were done in the lifetime of the founder, but as the founder would do them if he were alive in our day."

About Us

Who are we? The Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration of Our Lady of Solitude Monastery in the Diocese of Phoenix. We are in the process of building a new Monastery in Tonopah, Arizona. This blog is intended to keep all of our faithful friends and supporters up to date on the 'latest happenings' regarding this building project. It's also intended to keep you up to date on our day to day life and adventures!

We are not some casual and meaningless product of evolution. Each of us is the result of a thought of God. Each of us is willed, each of us is loved, each of us is necessary. There is nothing more beautiful than to be surprised by the Gospel, by the encounter with Christ. There is nothing more beautiful than to know Him and to speak to others of our friendship with Him.

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"Percy and I keep a close eye on Sr. Mary Blogger to be sure she keeps you up to date!" - so sayeth Fergus the Westie

as of Jan. 11, 2010

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WHY ARE POOR CLARES BLOGGING?

Blogs! To be honest, we never knew what they were until someone suggested that we begin our own! This usually is the way of it with us Poor Clares. When my Superior told me to create a website, I had never seen the internet, did not know what a hyperlink was, and had never heard of 'google'! Yet, here I am, on my 3rd website! And enjoying every minute of it! Why? Because it is our hidden way of evangelizing! It's our hidden way of spreading the fragrance of our life, of our contemplative existence.

It's with this in mind that we have created our new blog. It's blogging from the mountaintop of our prayer and from the valley of daily duty. It's sharing our joys and challenges - which are quite heightened with the upcoming construction of the new Monastery and Chapel. Having received so much, it's our joy to give back...not only through our intercessory prayer, but also in other little ways (like this website, our quarterly newsletter, and now our 'blog').

Our contemplative life is meant to be an inspiration for all of you who are on the front lines! We hope that these little means of evangelization give you some refreshment (and that our prayers supply you with ammunition, so to speak), so that you can keep fighting the good fight of the faith.